A PAINTING of the pier at Cove on the Rosneath peninsula by one of the world-renowned “Scottish Colourists” has been added to the Scottish Maritime Museum’s growing art collection.

The painting of The Pier at Cove – Loch Long, by Francis Cadell, is one of more than 40 works of art added to the museum collection in the first half of its “SMMart” project.

The museum, which is based in Irvine but also has a centre in Dumbarton dedicated to the Denny Tank, has also acquired works by George Wyllie, Kate Downie, Will Maclean, Joyce W Cairns, Tom McKendrick, Benno Schotz and Patricia Cain amongst others, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Collecting Culture programme.

But the story doesn’t end there – and the museum’s curator of art, Fiona Carmichael, has this week launched a public search for more pieces to add to the collection.

Ms Carmichael said: “We are sure there must be some fascinating maritime art works held by members of the public who might want to see them cared for and on show as part of a national collection.”

The “Scottish Colourists”, Samuel Peploe, Francis Cadell, John Duncan Fergusson and Leslie Hunter, combined Scottish painting traditions with the styles of French Impressionist painters in the 1920s and 1930s. The museum is looking for high quality artworks from the 1800s onwards. All works must be over 10 years in age.